NEWS: Amanda Palmer: Theatre Is Evil

CULTURE: Amanda Palmer: Theatre Is Evil

by Nicole Powers



Amanda Palmer is truly an artist of and for the people – sharing her heart, soul, and music with an unparalleled generosity. Going it alone without the backing of a record company, she went cap in hand to her fans via Kickstarter asking them to support her first post-label “big, legit, studio album undertaking” to the tune of $100K. Thanks, in part, to the unique and very honest rapport the former Dresden Doll has with her fanbase, the response was massive; she covered the requested amount nearly 12 times over – raising $1,192,793 via 24,883 backers. The resulting album – Theatre is Evil – was unleashed via Palmer’s own imprint, 8 Ft. Records, on September 11.

To appropriately mark the release of her much anticipated first full-on full-length in four years, Palmer and her newly assembled Grand Theft Orchestra have embarked on a two month-plus North American and European tour. SuicideGirls attended the official record release party on Tuesday September 11, at Webster Hall in NYC. The show, which was the second date of the tour (the first being in Philly the night before), was simultaneously webcast globally via YouTube.

The bulk of the show was quite rightly taken up with the new tracks, which ranged from raucous rock-infused ditties (“Olly Olly Oxen Free” and “Do It With A Rockstar”) to post-apocalyptic alt cabaret (“Smile: Pictures or It Didn’t Happen”), to new wave pastiches (“Want It Back” and “Bottomfeeder”), to songs so beautiful that they would have broken our heart had it not already been smashed to smithereens (“The Bed Song,” “Berlin,” “Trout Heart Replica” and “Grown Men Cry”).

The band, her phattest to date – complete with revolving volunteer string and horn sections (which vary from date to date) – sounded epic, while Palmer was completely in her element. She conversed intimately with her audience, shared their secrets via a confessional note box, and, during songs, hopped from keys to drums to guitar – and then off stage. Indeed it seemed fitting as an artist of the people, that she surfed the audience with such art, ease, and elegance on more than one occasion.

Having made grown men and women laugh, cry, and rock out in the extreme, Palmer drew her triumphant set to a close with “Leeds United” – a personal fave of this humble scribe. Judging by the raw emotion exuded by the crowd en mass, we could tell we weren’t the only one in the room that had loved and lost. The glee with which the packed house joined in with the unlikely anthemic chorus verged on indecent. But, indeed, “Who needs love when there's Law And Order? And who needs love when there's Southern Comfort? And who needs love when the sandwiches are wicked and they know you at the Mac Store?”



And who needs love when you can have a night out – or in – with Ms. Palmer?

...Talking of which, download your copy of Theatre is Evil – NOW for FREE – like immediately!

A pioneer in the *awkward* area of downloading, Palmer pragmatically balances her need to finance her creativity with the realities of intellectual property and commerce in the digital age – not to mention in these tough economic times. All she asks is that you observe the honor system – no questions, no judgment. Leave a little in the virtual tip jar if you can afford it (or when you can, if you love it). Then do what the lady says, and share it with a friend. They’ll be grateful you did, as will Ms. Palmer, since you can’t put a price on new fans!



For more images from the show, visit our photo gallery.

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The album is just addictive!

I downloaded the free album (15 songs!) last night but haven't had a chance to play it (and probably won't before Saturday ) There is a second download with 4 extra songs and you can choose from four or five amounts from 1 to 20 dollars to pay for it. (Amanda says the reason for a the minimum of a dollar payment is to cover royalty fees for using other artists's work.) She probably figures (not without reason) people who like/love the free album will come back and pay something for the extras.

Just out of curiosity, if she asked for $100,000 for her album via kickstarter and got more than eleven times that, why does she need to use a significant number of unpaid volunteer musicians on her tour? Tickets aren't free, right? If I'm paying my hard-earned cash to see any professional act perform I expect a good show with well-rehearsed professionals, not amateurs who are doing the material for the first or second time.

Also, I would think that as a very outspoken independent artist she would be serious about supporting other independent working musicians. Apparently not, if there is more profit to be made by short-sheeting her audience and her community.

"We'll pay you in beer, merch and hugs" reeks of the plague in the design community of "design me a bunch of stuff upfront for free, and if I like it I'll pay you - think of the (potential, hypothetical, might never happen, won't pay the rent) exposure!" She really could have handled it a lot better if she wanted a bunch of musicians to work for her on tour at their own expense.

Steve Albini is not impressed.

I was a bit put off when I'd heard about that too.

I feel just slightly better about it after taking her album for free.

Seeing her tomorrow night.

Why would that make you feel better? If you think it's douchey to expect musicians to work for free, shouldn't you, then, feel like a douche when doing it yourself?

Er, because she released the album for free, genius? BTW, I'm not sure how getting paid a million dollars is working "for free, " but maybe you can explain it.

This isn't complicated.

An artist asked for a startup fund(despite being more than successful enough to pay for it herseslf) advance from her fans. They responded by giving her 11 times the amount she requested. She pocketed the extra money, and asked people to work for free for her, something she was completely unwilling to do herself.

And, of course, the suckers applaud.

*shrugs* Turnabout's fair play.

(I shouldn't have responded. The person above me said it better.)

Not sure how I missed that detail. I thought he was talking about a pirated download.

Also, I was drunk posting and didn't fully describe what I was thinking at the time. As a former advertising/marketing/pr guy, I liked the move. I don't know if she usually releases albums for free or if that was the plan all along with this one, but releasing an album for free right after getting bad press for not paying musicians was a great idea. Well played, Palmer, well played.

Then there was also the fact I was thinking about buying it when I heard about the musicians thing, and felt conflicted about contributing financially to such behavior. This removed any doubt in my mind about getting the album.

And he isn't wrong (I don't think, anyway), but c'mon. Shall we compare the number of things Steve Albini dislikes to the number of things he approves of? I'm pretty sure the formula would be ∞ > fuck all.

she's such a turd.